Beneath the Foundation

By Abby Ebon

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Summary— The Four Founders summoned a demon monarch, an Old One, to always protect the castle. But nothing controls Illyria, God King of the Universe. Sealed away inside the Chamber of Secrets, she sleeps. When exploring the chamber, Harry comes across the slumbering, ancient being…Tis an Angel/Harry Potter Crossover.

Disclaimer: Forgot to mention I don't own either of the characters in these fandoms.

Beta; Kuro Ookami Hatake, (as of 10/29/09) who dusted this story off and put it to rights.

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There are many different worlds in this universe- many galaxies, and many, many, many more suns and stars.

It is said, that this is all there is – as if the universe stops – like a marble. What if, instead of a marble, it is like a bubble? Frail, expanding, and eventually doomed…

Such is a troublesome thought. That if this bubble, this universe, pops – life will never be again. Perhaps this is so –but it is unlikely- for as there is one bubble in a simmering pot, there are likely to be many more.

If this is so –if there were more bubbles, all alike to this one- with small changes, the color – the size, and rare- yet still probable, if it overlaps or 'joins' with a smaller bubble?

If such a thing is possible – then imagine what the first few bubbles of this primordial soup were like.

They would be relatively small universes, capable of containing one or two huge galaxies – with many stars; perhaps on those planets, which, while primitive- would support life, yet life on that planet would be harsh.

This is near imposable for us to imagine...for we are lucky - our planet is 'perfect'- for us.

People speak often of black and white 'holes' which take and dispense energy in a seemingly random pattern- those holes overlap time, space, and light. Other then this small fact – we know nothing of these holes.

So think of them as portals to the other bubbles – other, younger, or older 'universes', linking them in a random chain- if only for a few centuries.

This, while an impossible concept for some to grasp, is how demons know the universe to be.

The most ancient life forms are demons- who survived these impossibly harsh planets- but among these demons there are the Old Ones.

The Old Ones- who are feared, respected, and worshiped, are those who remember those primordial bubbles, who knew of other universes, and went to them – for they were born with the ability to use the mysterious black and white holes.

So they went, and they met other Old Ones - and met, eventually, humans. These are the lesser demons ancestors.

But they are not the Old Ones ancestors, for the Old Ones were born of nothing, born of the beginnings of the bubbles. These Old Ones are born original demons, pure of the filthy blood that 'taints' lesser demons– and impossibly more powerful.

This is what it meant to be Illyria.

To think Illyria had been sealed into a chamber of a mortal magical school – and Illyria's powers used- without her agreement- to fuel its protections.

Illyria had decided that while the sealing had saved her from the other Old Ones – she would open a portal to an alternate world; where her army awaited her.

Illyria would have them unleash her fury against these mortals…while she was elsewhere, and they would attack without her knowing when. For alone she was bound by the Grand Casting not to harm anyone within the castle- and to in fact, protect it.

First, though- she would to warn them of their coming doom – for human emotions fear – hope, anger – these were emotions that Old Ones could consume and absorb, rather then substance.

Such powerful emotions had let her live for a thousand years undisturbed beneath Hogwarts.

The man in front of her – he was a Wizard- a Professor to the students- and the Heir of those who had sealed her. As such, the Grand Casting forbid her to harm him- and urged her to protect him. She would do such- because she was still bound- if not sealed.

"W-what are you? What do you want?" The young Heir asked, stuttering and she knew he was a parselmouth- for he spoke it. None the less, Illyria was able to understand him. She laughed- and feeling cruel decided to give him hope- then crush it.

"I am Keeper, Old One, and Demon God-King –forced to protect this… Hogwarts- and you, boy, are the Heir. My Awakener…" She smiled, though he could not see it. She had learned to never to tell a mortal her true-name, and its spellings. He still looked confused.

She laughed, realizing that a thousand years had indeed passed swiftly, and mortals rarely kept accurate records from that far back.

The bird – a phoenix, gazed at her reproachfully, upset that she causes her young charge to be upset. Illyria did not particularly care if the phoenix liked her – or no.

Although the boy did reminded her of the Casters, but they were long gone- for she could not feel them, and they would have surely reset the seals on her stone sleep if they were still alive.

Though the Heir did carry four of their most powerful tools – and they had grown more powerful over the ages, they would not help him against Illyria's army.

"That is what I am. What I want…is to warn you…." His eyes were startled, and he was wary, and she chucked -unheard, deciding that he was brave – if somewhat foolish.

Most mortals, weak as they were - would be cowering before her- or hiding, this one was …intriguing. None the less, he too would feel her wrath.

"Warn of what?" The Heir whispered, and she saw he was cunning as well, a worthy aspect in demons, and a surprising one amongst mortals…

"The Army of Illyria comes to ruin you…" She purred, and saw his fear – and confusion.

"Who is Illyria?" She felt the Grand Casting urge her answer- and she found she could not stop it.

"She is I." The mortal's green eyes stared into her icy ones, despite the great height.

"I thought you said you were Hogwart's Keeper." He was curious- she blinked at him. She had yet to encounter a human- despite this one, who would ask questions of her after first meeting her.

"Forced to be Keeper, am I. I have warned you- and I shall go, so I can not prevent its destruction." Illyria turned, and three tentacles reached out, and using powers human kind did not possess she tore a hole in this reality- it was awaiting only for her to go through, to where her army resided.

Harry, feeling particularly foolish- or brave- followed.

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Once on the other side of the portal – Fawkes nipped his ear, particularly annoyed with his carelessness. Harry paid her no mind- even as the abused ear let out a few pitiful drops of blood.

Harry saw for miles around- it was a barren wasteland.

Illyria stood, frozen- paralyzed in her disbelief. Demon bones, twice and five times as large as a humans' – had withered to stones and stumps. There was…nothing.

She was… alone…for all eternity.

Illyria screamed to the heavens- and Harry yelped, clutching his ears- even as the wailing continued, escalating to a high pitch - then, just as abruptly as it had started, it stopped. The armor faded, and darkness enveloped her.

Harry watched in no little amount of amazement as Illyria – Old One and God-King of Demons, shifted her form, becoming smaller- shrinking in mass. She was then the size of a human…

And she …looked human.

What reminded Harry that the fallen, kneeling being- was not human was that above them thick, black storm clouds swirled.

These clouds were something no mortal had ever seen –for they had been summoned from Illyria's home universe, and they were in themselves menacing and demonic… Lightning struck the ground – inches away from them.

Harry swallowed. Now, he though sarcastically, how do you 'comfort' a demon? Harry thought that, perhaps if he lived through this – that should be in his next Defense Against the Dark Arts co-class with Care of Magical Creatures.

Harry, in a daze, studied her. The metallic armor that had covered her demon form was gone – in its place was a body suit of red armor with black 'cloth'; other then her face and hair – every inch of her was covered in 'clothes'. Her gloves were made up of rings of black and grey, and her boots were durable- and looked like they wouldn't come off.

Her hair was brown underneath the streaks of icy blue. Harry jumped as thunder clashed above them- he knew they could not stay here, he glanced behind him- the portal swirled soothingly, offering a way off this hellish place.

He moved to go to it- but stopped and glanced again to Illyria – he couldn't leave her here- alone.

Shoving down more fear then he wanted to admit to- he walked, slowly, to her side- and knelt beside her. He wasn't daring enough to touch her. Her face jerked up to see him. Her eyes were the same icy, inhumanly blue, as her hair. Interestingly the skin of her forehead was a shade of blue- as were her lips.

"What do you want, Heir?" Illyria, her tone betraying the feeling of hopelessness she felt.

"To help you…." Harry answered her- as truthfully as he could- for he also wanted off this planet, but that was beside the point. Her inhumane eyes narrowed – the pupils' pinpricks.

"Why?" Illyria asked for she was truly- baffled by this man.

"Because you need it, because I'm too terrified to leave. Because…I don't know…" Harry answered, glancing up at the oncoming storm – it was lessening, barely.

"I see…I am…lost, it…hurts," Illyria took Harry's hand and placed it on the slight swell of her bosom. "There." Harry blushed, and jerked his and back- not looking at her. Illyria tilted her head, not understanding his cheeks turning crimson- she had never had that effect upon a mortal. It appeared there was much she still did not know of…mortals – despite the hundreds of years she had lived among them, worshiped, and then later made a prisoner by them.

"You are strange." Illyria stated, and Harry ducked his head, embarrassed.

"You, Heir, you shall teach me of humans. Be my Guide among them- and in return I shall protect you." Illyria was ancient – and as an Old One, she had never made such a rash decision. Yet it was true, she wanted to learn about the school, about the humans – if there was nothing else for her among demons – and she truly felt no others of her kind- then she would seek to be among humans – to…learn.

"Why?" Harry blinked at her, somewhat baffled.

Illyria narrowed her eyes, glancing back at the portal- then to Harry.

"If you want to return, then agree to it." Illyria threatened- Harry didn't have to glance around the barren land- didn't have to decide on whether he wanted to 'Guide' (whatever that meant) an Old One or stay here.

"Alright." Harry agreed, and then they stood. As they walked back to the portal, Illyria glanced once more over her shoulder- then to her companion, Harry lost in thought. It couldn't be as hard to Guide a demon as to teach a few hundred students magic every year.

Could it?

Harry wondered what he had gotten himself into.

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